Let  $\eta $ be [-11pc] [-7pc]a closed real 1-form on a closed Riemannian n-manifold
$\eta $ be [-11pc] [-7pc]a closed real 1-form on a closed Riemannian n-manifold  $(M,g)$. Let
$(M,g)$. Let  $d_z$,
$d_z$,  $\delta _z$ and
$\delta _z$ and  $\Delta _z$ be the induced Witten’s type perturbations of the de Rham derivative and coderivative and the Laplacian, parametrized by
$\Delta _z$ be the induced Witten’s type perturbations of the de Rham derivative and coderivative and the Laplacian, parametrized by  $z=\mu +i\nu \in \mathbb C$ (
$z=\mu +i\nu \in \mathbb C$ ( $\mu ,\nu \in \mathbb {R}$,
$\mu ,\nu \in \mathbb {R}$,  $i=\sqrt {-1}$). Let
$i=\sqrt {-1}$). Let  $\zeta (s,z)$ be the zeta function of
$\zeta (s,z)$ be the zeta function of  $s\in \mathbb {C}$, defined as the meromorphic extension of the function
$s\in \mathbb {C}$, defined as the meromorphic extension of the function  $\zeta (s,z)=\operatorname {Str}({\eta \wedge }\,\delta _z\Delta _z^{-s})$ for
$\zeta (s,z)=\operatorname {Str}({\eta \wedge }\,\delta _z\Delta _z^{-s})$ for  $\Re s\gg 0$. We prove that
$\Re s\gg 0$. We prove that  $\zeta (s,z)$ is smooth at
$\zeta (s,z)$ is smooth at  $s=1$ and establish a formula for
$s=1$ and establish a formula for  $\zeta (1,z)$ in terms of the associated heat semigroup. For a class of Morse forms,
$\zeta (1,z)$ in terms of the associated heat semigroup. For a class of Morse forms,  $\zeta (1,z)$ converges to some
$\zeta (1,z)$ converges to some  $\mathbf {z}\in \mathbb {R}$ as
$\mathbf {z}\in \mathbb {R}$ as  $\mu \to +\infty $, uniformly on
$\mu \to +\infty $, uniformly on  $\nu $. We describe
$\nu $. We describe  $\mathbf {z}$ in terms of the instantons of an auxiliary Smale gradient-like vector field X and the Mathai–Quillen current on
$\mathbf {z}$ in terms of the instantons of an auxiliary Smale gradient-like vector field X and the Mathai–Quillen current on  $TM$ defined by g. Any real 1-cohomology class has a representative
$TM$ defined by g. Any real 1-cohomology class has a representative  $\eta $ satisfying the hypothesis. If n is even, we can prescribe any real value for
$\eta $ satisfying the hypothesis. If n is even, we can prescribe any real value for  $\mathbf {z}$ by perturbing g,
$\mathbf {z}$ by perturbing g,  $\eta $ and X and achieve the same limit as
$\eta $ and X and achieve the same limit as  $\mu \to -\infty $. This is used to define and describe certain tempered distributions induced by g and
$\mu \to -\infty $. This is used to define and describe certain tempered distributions induced by g and  $\eta $. These distributions appear in another publication as contributions from the preserved leaves in a trace formula for simple foliated flows, giving a solution to a problem stated by C. Deninger.
$\eta $. These distributions appear in another publication as contributions from the preserved leaves in a trace formula for simple foliated flows, giving a solution to a problem stated by C. Deninger.